Bill Surian, center, kisses his life partner Jody Garrett during the wedding ceremony of her daughter Jamijo Gilbert to Tim Carter. Though they had planned the wedding to be in June of 2014, Gilbert and Carter were married on Oct. 4, 2013 at Covenant Health Care's Chapel in Saginaw due to Garrett's recent diagnosis of terminal gallbladder cancer. This picture...

Eric Davis warms up during Arthur Hill's boys basketball practice on Dec. 4, 2013. Davis is considered the No. 1 junior in the state and one of the top recruits in the country. Sammy Jo Hester | MLive.com

Eric Davis warms up during Arthur Hill's boys basketball practice on Dec. 4, 2013. Davis is considered the No. 1 junior in the state and one of the top recruits in the country. Sammy Jo Hester | MLive.com

Eric Davis warms up during Arthur Hill's boys basketball practice on Dec. 4, 2013. Davis is considered the No. 1 junior in the state and one of the top recruits in the country. Sammy Jo Hester | MLive.com

A worker at Kremin Inc. mans his station on Sept. 25, 2013, which was ranked by Inc. Magazine as one of the nations fastest growing private companies. The company has an expansion planned that includes a facility in Frankenmuth as well as more jobs.

Bill Surian, center, kisses his life partner Jody Garrett during the wedding ceremony of her daughter Jamijo Gilbert to Tim Carter. Though they had planned the wedding for June 2014, Gilbert and Carter were married on Oct. 4, 2013, at Covenant HealthCare's Chapel in Saginaw due to Garrett's diagnosis of terminal gallbladder cancer. "I honestly can't imagine getting married without...

After the funeral director presented Jamijo Gilbert with the ashes of Jody Garrett inside a decorative clock, Gilbert hugged the clock in commemoration of her mother. "I think the only way to describe her is 'The Greatest," Gilbert said. Sammy Jo Hester | MLive.com

Jamijo Gilbert laughs with one of her two daughters, Aubree Ann, 6, after comforting her other daughter Sydnee,4, who was crying because she missed her grandmother. Due to the closeness of the family, the death of "Grandma Jody" Garrett has been difficult on the two girls. Sammy Jo Hester | MLive.com

Jamijo Gilbert walks through the show room at Snow Funeral Home while holding the ashes of her mother Jody Garrett in search of small urns to give to her daughters. Gilbert hoped that having the urns will help the girls better understand the death of their grandmother and give them a piece of her to hold on to. Sammy Jo...

Jamijo Gilbert works through the night to begin the long task of packing up her late mother's home, carefully packaging each item before placing it in storage boxes. "She was more than my mother," said Jamijo Gilbert. "She was my best friend." She described Jody Garrett as standing beside her through all life's challenges including her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis...

Hospital information, her grandchildren's artwork and notes hang on the wall of the home of Jody Garrett. A purple sign with the words, "I love you Bill" was placed there by Garrett herself. Bill Surian, her life partner, said that Garrett never wanted him leaving the house without knowing she loved him. Sammy Jo Hester | MLive.com

Before her memorial ceremony, family members joined together to release balloons into the sky bearing notes to Jody Garrett in honor of her birthday. "Happy Birthday Mom. I love you and miss you," Jamijo Gilbert wrote in large printed letters on a note before placing it inside her purple balloon. Sammy Jo Hester | MLive.com

Jamijo Gilbert holds her new husband Tim Carter while their daughters chase after the balloons sent off on Jody Garrett's birthday. "We have been through more in our short time of marriage than most couples have their entire lives," Carter said of their relationship. Sammy Jo Hester | MLive.com

Five days after her wedding ceremony, Jamijo Gilbert's mother Jody Garrett lost her battle with terminal gallbladder cancer. "I just don't know what I am going to do," Gilbert said aloud while sitting in her mother's home. "I just don't know what I am going to do." Sammy Jo Hester | MLive.com

Jamijo Gilbert, right, sheds a tear with her mother Jody Garrett after Gilbert and Tim Carter were married at Covenant HealthCare's Chapel in Saginaw, Oct. 4, 2013. The family gathered in the hospital cafeteria for a small reception put on by the hospital staff. "It's always a mother's dream to see her little girl get married," Garrett said. Sammy Jo...

Sammy Jo Hester | MLive.com Millington players celebrate after defeating Frankenmuth in their second-round playoff football game Nov. 8, 2013 at Frankenmuth. Millington won 33-29 with a touchdown in the final minutes of the game.